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NESRA tells Glendale Heights board it provides inclusive recreation and one‑on‑one supports
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Summary
Northeast DuPage Special Recreation Association (NESRA) introduced longtime participants and described programs that provide inclusive recreation across 11 communities, including one‑on‑one staff support available at no cost to families to enable participation for residents with disabilities.
The Village of Glendale Heights heard a presentation from the Northeast DuPage Special Recreation Association (NESRA) at its April 2 meeting, with NESRA Executive Director Jerry Barton and village Leisure Services Director Keith Knautz introducing longtime program participants and describing inclusion services for residents with disabilities.
“This is a group of 11 member partners that deals with special recreation,” Jerry Barton said, identifying NESRA’s role serving children and adults across Northeast DuPage County. Barton said NESRA publishes a program guide three times a year and offers programs similar to a municipal recreation department, tailored for participants of all ability levels.
Barton introduced three long‑time participants, saying Mike has been with NESRA for 32 years, Sean for 15 years (a former Glendale Heights resident) and Sergio for about 15 years. Participants described favorite activities such as bocce, softball, basketball, soccer, flag football, bowling and seasonal outings. “If it wasn’t for them, I don’t know where I’d be right now,” Sean said of NESRA, thanking the organization for providing a “second family.”
Barton explained NESRA’s inclusion work for municipalities: when a resident with a disability wants to join a village program but needs assistance, NESRA will “work closely with the village to make sure that those supports are put in place,” including providing one‑on‑one staff at no cost to families to facilitate participation close to home.
Knautz, the village’s leisure services director, described NESRA’s longstanding relationship with Glendale Heights and invited residents to contact the leisure services office for referrals and accommodations. The mayor and trustees thanked the group and the board took a photo with the visiting participants.
The presentation served as an outreach and informational briefing; there were no board actions connected to the presentation.
